Chadian journalists given suspended jail terms, released

Three
Chadian journalists jailed for several
months in the capital, N'Djamena, while facing prosecution on defamation and
anti-state charges, were handed suspended jail terms and then released,
according to news reports and local journalists.

A court on August 19, 2013, convicted Eric
Topona, secretary-general of the Union of Chadian Journalists, and Jean Etienne Laokolé, a
freelance journalist and blogger, of criminal defamation and
"unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the constitutional order" in connection with
their alleged contributions to an opposition blog critical of the government, Makaila.over-blog.com, according to news reports. As
evidence, prosecutors presented alleged email exchanges between Topona and
Laokolé that discussed calls for a popular uprising, Agence France-Presse
reported.

Laokolé was arrested and jailed on March 22, 2013.
Topona was arrested on May 6, 2013, and accused of working with Laokolé. Both
journalists have denied the charges and disputed the authenticity of the
emails, according to local journalists.

Laokolé appealed the sentence, his defense
lawyer, Pierre
Mianlengar, told CPJ. Topona's lawyer, Sobdibé Zoua, has said that the journalist is also appealing, according
to news
reports.

A
third journalist, Moussaye Avenir
De La Tchiré, editor of the private trimonthly Abba
Garde, was convicted on August 29, 2013, of "incitement to hatred and a popular uprising" in connection
with an article critical of President Idriss Déby, Agence France-Presse reported. De La Tchiré, who had been imprisoned since May 7, was
sentenced to a suspended jail term of two years and a fine of 1 million CFA
francs (US$2,000).